When comparing Artec Eva vs DAVID SLS-3, the Slant community recommends Artec Eva for most people. In the question“What are the best non-contact 3D scanners? ”Artec Eva is ranked 1st while DAVID SLS-3 is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose Artec Eva is:

In terms of scan quality, this is one of the best handheld 3D scanners available. The maximum resolution of the unit is an impressive 0.5 mm at the minimum 0.4 m scanning distance.

Pros

Pro

Impressive resolution

In terms of scan quality, this is one of the best handheld 3D scanners available. The maximum resolution of the unit is an impressive 0.5 mm at the minimum 0.4 m scanning distance.

Pro

Good price-performance ratio

For professionals that don't have a permanent studio set up or that need the versatility that a handheld scanner provides, the Artec Eva is a great option. The generated scans can be used for commercial-level endeavors, and easily dwarf the quality of scans of consumer-level devices. Though the price is high, the high quality can justify the price tag for high-end users.

Pro

Wide variety of output formats

The data gathered from this device can be used in almost every CAD application. The full list of supported formats is impressive: OBJ, PLY, WRL, STL, AOP, ASCII, Disney PTEX, E57 and XYZRGB. The scanned data can be used for purely geometric design operations (like editing and redesigning scanned shapes), as well as for applications involving shape, colour and texture of objects (art and design based applications). This array of file formats, which includes some that are proprietary or uncommonly used, avoids having to take annoying extra steps for converting files to the desired format.

Pro

Can scan traditionally difficult materials

Many 3D scanners have issues with reflective, dark, or low density materials. The Artec Eva is capable of scanning materials with these characteristics with good results, as shown in this review.

Pro

Relatively quick scanning makes scanning living subjects easier

Even small movements can ruin a 3D scan when scanning a living subject. The Eva can scan a human face in about 20 seconds in ideal conditions, and extremities can take less than a minute, with only minor issues. Therefore, this scanner is very popular for full body scanning: in fact, it was used to create the first ever body scan of Barack Obama back in 2014.

Pro

Built-in light source for better scanning conditions

Because the Eva projects its own light on the target object, it tends to always get good scan results, even in less-than-favorable lighting conditions. That being said, extreme lighting conditions (such as very dim lighting or very bright background lights, such as sunlight) can still harm scan quality.

Pro

Can be used with Artec Studio, which is very helpful

This scanner can be used with the Artec Studio software, which is a very versatile tool. Amateurs can use this software in Autopilot mode, making the process as simple as answering a couple of simple questions about the object (shape/colour/texture) and letting the software do the rest on its own. Professionals, on the other hand, can use the “full toolbox” that allows them to manipulate and process the scanned data. These features make the software worth the hefty investment (a license costs $400 per year). There’s also a free 30-day trial version (containing all features) of this software.

Pro

Easy to handle

The Eva is comfortable to manipulate: the handle fits nicely on one's hand, and good weight distribution facilitates a steady scan, as long as the unit remains vertically aligned.

Pro

Good field of view size

The field view of this scanner is 536 x 371 mm, meaning you can capture a scene with this size with just a single shot.

Pro

No object size limit

As a handheld scanner, there is theoretically no limit to scannable object size, as long as you can keep a distance between 0.4 m and 1.0 m from the object you are scanning. The Artec Eva can be successfully used to scan tiny LEGO figures, human bodies and entire minivans.

Pro

Good documentation available

The Artec Eva is well documented, with high quality manuals available for download from the manufacturer’s website. There are also plenty of YouTube tutorials on how to use the device.

Pro

Very simple to set up

The initial setup procedure of this unit is surprisingly simple. After powering it up and connecting it to a computer, you just need to activate the scanner through the Artec Installation Center program on your computer. AIC can be installed together with Artec Studio or directly from the manufacturer’s website for free. After that, you can simply launch Artec Studio and begin scanning.

Pro

Can be used with Geomagic Design X

Geomagic Design X, a powerful software for reverse engineering and creating feature-based, editable solid models compatible with most CAD programs, is available to be used with the Artec Eva. It should be noted this powerful software costs even more than the scanner itself.

Pro

It's possible to export directly to SolidWorks

A SolidWorks CAD plugin allows users to export newly scanned 3D objects directly to SolidWorks. However, this plugin is expensive, costing around $6,000.

Pro

Certified accuracy

Every Artec Eva scanner comes with a certificate guaranteeing its accuracy. This certificate complies with VDI (Association of German Engineers) standards.

Pro

Can capture color and texture

The Artec Eva is capable of capturing surface features of target objects, such as color and texture details.

Pro

Included software is powerful and intuitive to use

To operate this scanner, you’ll need the HP 3D Scan Software Pro V5 installed on your computer. The software license is bundled with the scanner itself, so you won’t need to buy it separately. The software is simple to use and intuitive, but also quite powerful. It’s divided into three main parts: setup, scanning and shape function. This means that, during the scanning stage, for example, you’ll only be presented with the functions relevant for that stage.

Pro

Maximum resolution of 0.05 mm

This 3D scanner can push its resolution to up to 0.05 mm, at 10 cm distance from the object (keep in mind that in order to be able to achieve this result you’ll have to spend hours calibrating the device). The overall result is very impressive, since a 0.05 mm resolution allows to scan objects in great detail. For example, you can theoretically scan a human hair using this scanner. This is a very powerful tool if used properly.

Pro

Capable of capturing color

As the unit only has a monochrome camera, color capturing is achieved by measuring reflectivity on the surface of the scanned object.

Pro

Plenty of great accessories available

Besides cables and hard cases, this scanner has plenty of accessories to choose from. There’s the TT-1 Automatic Turntable ( $1160.00 ), which makes 360 degree scans easier, or the DSL-1 Desk Scan Lever ( $650.00 ), which gives the scanner some extra free space for more complicated 3D scans. Another notable accessory is the SLS-3 Stereo Camera Upgrade Kit ( $1795.00 ), which improves scan quality by adding a second camera, at the cost of complicating even more the default setup, since both cameras need to be individually calibrated.

Pro

Good for teaching purposes

Calibrating this scanner is quite time-consuming and tricky, which can be annoying for regular use, but can be useful for teaching purposes, since the setup process itself helps understanding how structured light 3D scanning works.

Pro

Enhanced texture

This scanner's high precision 1080p camera enhances the textures of scanned objects.

Pro

Scanning process is easy

Unlike setup and calibration, the scanning process itself is quite easy. Scanning an object from multiple positions is enough to merge the data and form a 360 degree mesh.

Pro

Exports into STL, OBJ and PLY formats

This 3D scanner is designed to export purely geometric 3D formats, and is therefore capable of generating STL, OBJ and PLY files, which are more than enough for reverse engineering and geometry editing with most CAD software.

Cons

Con

Resolution levels decrease with distance

The further away from the object you go, the more the scan resolution deteriorates, which is normal for handheld scanner. At the maximum distance of scanning distance of 1.0 m, the resolution is only 3 mm.

Con

Requires a powerful computer

The scanner itself is so powerful that a fairly high-end computer is required to process the data it outputs. An i5 processor or higher is required, as well as a whopping 12GB of RAM. Without a 1GB dedicated video card, you'll encounter many hangups during the scanning process.

Con

The structured light sensor can be dangerous

The Artec Eva is a structured light scanner,, which projects a pattern of light onto the subject and measures distortions from multiple angles to compute the 3D surface of the model. This requires a powerful light source which can cause damage if shone directly into one's eyes. If 3D scanning a person's face, for instance, it's imperative their eyes remain closed.

Con

No free software available

When you get this 3D scanner, make sure you set aside enough money to invest in software. All the available software options are quite expensive, including Artec Studio (an yearly license costs $400).

Con

Poor selection of scanner accessories

Besides standard cables, there are barely any accessories provided by the manufacturer. The only ones available are battery packs and hard cases. For both items, the prices are only available upon request.

Con

Annoying cables needed

The Eva requires a power cable and a USB cable to run. While both are long enough for simple use, they can be easily tangled, stepped on, or even scanned by mistake. Using the external Power Pack is a possible, albeit expensive, solution to this particular issue.

Con

Very expensive

The Eva has a high price tag, it requires a fairly powerful laptop to function (due to the intense resources needed to process its scans), and the software that can be used with it is expensive. With a cost this high, many businesses may prefer to sacrifice portability and choose a high-end static device capable of achieving better results.

Con

Limited workspace

The SLS-3 system is limited by the maximum size of objects it can scan, a problem which exists for pretty much all stationary 3D scanners. This scanner's maximum allowed dimensions are 500 mm in any direction, and it's impossible to use it to scan larger objects, unlike handheld scanners, that can be used to scan objects that are quite big.

Con

Harsh calibration procedure

Calibrating the scanner is very unforgiving. You’ll need to find the ideal positions of the cameras, the projector and the object itself just for one scan. You’ll have to adjust the focus, distance and the angle of both the camera and projector manually. After doing all that, you’ll then have to double check everything using the DAVID software. All in all, it’s a very time-consuming effort that needs to be repeated for every new target object.

Con

Unintuitive setup

The setup procedure is unintuitive, and requires thoroughly reading the manual. First, you’ll need to connect the DAVID camera and projector to your computer, then you’ll have to install all software and drivers provided in a USB stick, then configure the projector as an extended screen.

Con

Resolution drops with distance

As expected with this kind of scanner, resolution drops if you increase the distance to the target object. At a distance of 500 mm from the object, the resolution is only 0.25mm (5 times worst than the resolution at 100 mm).